men vs. women

[mzaharis]

"Allowed more trophies to be handed out." ??!!??!!

By your reasoning then they should have a mens compition, a womens, a men with black hair, women with blonde hair, black man, black woman, black man albino, women black albino, man named "Tim", woman named "Sally", man named "Roger", woman named "Becky", man with tatoo, woman with tatoo, man with funny look, woman with funny look compition too. Hey, MORE TROPHIES right? .....sheesh

Whoa, whoa, hold on there! Read Airbum's final sentence!

I would like it to be about the "best" pilot not the best male or female pilot.

He's not trying to advocate gender-specific trophies, he's just trying to understand why it's the current state of affairs. Anyway, as Mike Eggen pointed out, IAC doesn't give gender-specific trophies - only the FAI does!

 

[Mike Eggen]

If anyone's interested here's a link where you can read blogs from the US team at the WAC getting underway in Spain. www.unlimitedaerobaticsusa.com.

 

[Airbum]

Guess this is what happens when they let a history major on the internet. (me) <BG>

Mzaharis thanks for the backup

Glasspilot: Many sports offer age group/men/women categories in my understanding. No offense was meant concerning my thoughts.
Like Mzaharris said I just like the idea of pilots competing on a level playing field. Let the best win.

However I would like a special category for guys who can't do a decent vertical roll! I could rock!

 

[spitfire1940]

Hey Guys,
Just got back from two weeks vacation (in Russia) where I purposefully avoided all contact with the internet.
I was glad to see some thoughtful responses to my question. Knowledge and reason are rare commodities in the Hanger! Nobody flamed me for asking or blamed the division between men and women on Mesa or Kit Darby ... although they probably DO bear some responsibility ...

 

[flynfr8]

Women vs. Men

It's because if women competed against the men, they would never win! Duh!

Funny, the current AND recently former US National Unlimited Aerobatic Champions ARE WOMEN! Vicki Cruse and Debby Rihn-Harvey, respectively. Then there is Patty Wagstaff...

The FAI/CIVA has their rules, and the IAC works in concert with them to keep the operations of contests consistent with world level competition. In the US, the National Champion in each discipline is non-gender specific, it is only during team selection for the World Championships where gender comes into play.

 

[spitfire1940]

Thanks for resurrecting the thread, flynfr8.

I didn't know the division into men's and women's competitions only takes place at the world level, or in preparation for it.

I guess it just makes things more interesting to divide the competition up ... but wouldn't you say this is a sport where men and women compete on equal footing as opposed to things like track and field or figure skating?

 

[flynfr8]

When I watch a competitor or airshow pilot fly, I look at technique and precision, as well as artistic expression and the uniqueness of the figures (as seen in the 4-minute freestyle), not at gender.

That being said, when I watch a female competitor or performer fly, I am thrilled that there is someone who can inspire my daughter to excellence.

Pretty much all I have to say about that. Enjoy the sport, and volunteer at IAC contests. The volunteer coordinators are always looking for folks to assist.

 

[Airbum]

just get out there and fly. SO few pilots fly aerobatics. Encourage everyone to try the "outside" life!

Wish more did